Weight loss of 14.5%! After the Alzheimer's trial failed, Novo Nordisk released positive data on a new weight loss drug, boosting stock prices
Novo Nordisk's trial results show that the new generation diabetes drug amycretin injection, administered once a week, can help patients lose up to 14.5% of their weight over 36 weeks, while the daily oral formulation can achieve a weight loss of up to 10.1%. This news drove Novo Nordisk's U.S. stock price to rise over 4.6%, recovering most of the losses from yesterday's Ozempic drug trial failure
Novo Nordisk AS announced that the clinical trial data for its new generation diabetes drug amycretin shows significant weight loss effects while lowering blood sugar levels, providing a boost for the Danish pharmaceutical company whose market value has evaporated by more than half this year.
On Tuesday, the trial results released by Novo Nordisk showed that the amycretin injection, administered once a week, can help patients lose up to 14.5% of their weight within 36 weeks, while the daily oral formulation can achieve a weight loss of up to 10.1%.
The news drove Novo Nordisk's stock price in the U.S. to rise over 4.6%, recovering most of the losses from the previous day's Ozempic drug trial failure.
Wallstreetcn reported that on Monday, Novo Nordisk announced that the oral version of its Ozempic failed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in two large clinical trials. Based on cognitive assessment results, patients taking the drug did not show significant improvement.
Regarding the results of the amycretin trial, Bloomberg Industry Research analyst Michael Shah stated that although it is difficult to make direct comparisons due to differences in clinical trial designs, Novo Nordisk's drug performed well in terms of weight loss compared to Eli Lilly's Zepbound and its next-generation oral drug orforglipron.
Shah added:
However, the patients in Novo Nordisk's trial were heavier, and it may be relatively easier for heavier individuals to lose weight initially.
Shah believes:
In large late-stage studies, amycretin's impact on blood sugar is less than that of Eli Lilly's drug, but detailed data including side effects will be key.
Reportedly, Amycretin is a key component of Novo Nordisk's new generation drug combination, integrating two weight loss mechanisms into a single molecule.
After losing its leading position in obesity treatment to its American competitor Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk needs next-generation drugs to improve its competitive standing.
Novo Nordisk plans to initiate late-stage clinical trials of amycretin in patients with type 2 diabetes next year, but analysts believe these trials are unlikely to deliver results before 2028, so this does not immediately resolve Novo Nordisk's product line issues.
